Also by Edward Jenner

Transcript

1

2 Also by Edward Jenner Scholarship The Gold Leaves (being an account and translation from the Ancient Greek of the so-called Orphic Gold Tablets). Atuanui The Love Songs of Ibykos: 22 fragments. Holloway Press. Auckland Poetry A Memorial Brass. Hawk Press. Eastbourne Dedications. Omphalos. Auckland Writers in Residence and other Captive Fauna. Titus Complete Gold Leaves Compiled with English translations by Edward Jenner All translations E. Jenner 2015 Editorial: William Direen/Percutio isbn : Legal Deposit : New Zealand, January, 2016 All rights reserved Download address Printed version also available This pdf version is best viewed using pdf display: Two Pages Citation guideline Jenner, E. Complete Gold Leaves, pdf, (date retrieved)

3 Complete Gold Leaves Preface A-texts Thurii Thurii 2 (a) Thurii Rome B-texts Hipponion Petelia Pharsalos Thessaly Entella Eleutherna Mylopotamos Rethymnon Other texts Pelinna (a) Pherai Pherai Amphipolis Bibliography

4 Preface This electronic document complements my earlier printed book The Gold Leaves (Being an Account and Translation from the Ancient Greek of the Socalled Orphic Gold Tablets) (Atuanui Press, 2014), which contained only two Greek texts (those of Thurii 1 and Hipponion ). Three of the Greek texts differ from those cited as texts of choice in that edition. Here, I have preferred the more reader-friendly presentations of the Greek for Thurii 2a, Mylopotamos and Rethymnon, as found in R.G. Edmonds, The Orphic Gold Tablets and Greek Religion (2011). In the Greek texts, square brackets indicate scribal dittography ( Thurii 1 ), scribal omissions, or text missing on a fragmentary lamella (e.g. Entella ); chevrons indicate scholarly restorations; braces, scribal errors. In my English translations, paired brackets indicate dittography ( Thurii 1 ), lacunae caused by unintelligible Greek, conjectural supplements (e.g. the third last and last lines of Petelia ), and the boundaries of a fragmentary line (e.g. the penultimate line of Petelia ). A single bracket on a line indicates the left- or right-hand edge of a fragmentary lamella or the margin at the beginning of an otherwise unintelligible line (e.g. Entella in both cases). Acknowledgements are due to William Direen for his care in assisting me with assembling and compiling the Greek texts to bring these messages engraved on diminutive shreds of gold leaf to cyberspace, after having lain buried for well over two millennia with the ashes or the skeletons of their owners. E.J. December 2015

5 A-texts

6 E d w a r d J e n n e r Thurii 1 Ἔρχομαι ἐκ κοθαρῶν κοθαρά, χθονίων βασίλεια, Εὐκλῆς Εὐβουλεύς τε καὶ ἀθάνατοι θεοὶ ἄλλοι καὶ γὰρ ἐγὼν ὑμῶν γένος ὄλβιον εὔχομαι εἶμεν. ἀλλά με μοῖρ ἐδάμασσε {καὶ ἀθάνατοι θεοὶ ἄλλοι} καὶ ἀστεροβλῆτα κεραυνῶι. κύκλου δ ἐξέπταν βαρυπενθέος ἀργαλέοιο, ἱμερτοῦ δ ἐπέβαν στεφάνου ποσὶ καρπαλίμοισι, δεσποίνας δ ὑπὸ κόλπον ἔδυν χθονίας βασιλείας. {ἱμερτοῦ δ ἀπέβαν στεμάνου ποσὶ καρπασίμοισι} ὄλβιε καὶ μακαριστέ, θεὸς δ ἔσηι ἀντὶ βροτοῖο. ἔριφος ἐς γάλ ἔπετον. Text: Zuntz (1971), p

7 Thurii 1 C o m p l e t e G o l d L e a v e s Pure, I come from the pure, Queen of the Dead, Eukles, Eubouleus, and other immortal gods: for I too claim to be of your blessed race. But I was vanquished by Fate [and other immortal gods] and Lightning-striker s bolt. I flew out of the wheel of grief and suffering, I raced to win the crown I so desired, I sank beneath the breast of our mistress, the Queen of the Dead. [I raced to win the crown I so desired] Blessed and fortunate man, god will you be, no longer mortal. I am the kid that rushed to milk. Southern Italy, mid-4th c. B.C. 7

8 E d w a r d J e n n e r Thurii 2 (a) Ἔρχομα<ι> ἐ<κ> κα<θα>ρῶν {σχονων} καθαρά, χ<θ>ονίων βασίλ{η}ει<α>, Εὖκλε καὶ Εὐβουλεῦ {ι} καὶ θεοὶ <καὶ> δαίμο<ν>ε<ϛ> ἄλλοι καὶ γὰρ ἐγὼν ὑμῶν γένο<ϛ> εὔχομαι ὄλβιον εἶναι πο<ι>νὰν δ ἀνταπέ{ι}τε{σε}ι<σ> ἔργων ἕνεκα οὔτι δικα<ί>ων. εἴτε με Μο<ῖ>ρα ἐδάμασ<σ> {ατο} εἴτε ἀστεροπῆτα κ<ε>ραυνῶν. νῦν δ ἱκέτι<ϛ> ἥκω πα<ρα>ὶ ἁγνὴ<ν> Φε<ρ>σεφόνε<ι>αν, ὥϛ με{ι} πρόφ<ρ>ω<ν> πέμψη<ι> ἕδραϛ ἐϛ εὐαγέ{ι}ων. Text: Edmonds (2011), p18. 8

9 Thurii 2 (a) C o m p l e t e G o l d L e a v e s Pure, I come from the pure, Queen of the Dead, Eukles and Eubouleus and other gods and deities: for I too claim to be of your blessed race, having paid the penalty for my unjust deeds whether Fate vanquished me or Lightning-striker. Now I come as suppliant before chaste Persephone that she kindly send me amongst the purified. Southern Italy, mid-4th c. B.C. 9

10 E d w a r d J e n n e r Thurii 3 Ἀλλ ὁπόταμ ψυχὴ προλίπηι φάος Ἀελίοιο, δεξιὸν ΕΣΟΙΑΣΔΕΕΤ <ἰέ>ναι πεφυλαγμένον εὖ μάλα πάντα. χαῖρε παθὼν τὸ πάθημα τὸ δ οὔπω πρόσθε ἐπεπόνθεις θεὸς ἐγένου ἐξ ἀνθρώπου ἔριφος ἐς γάλα ἔπετες. χαῖρ<ε> χαῖρε δεξιὰν ὁδοιπόρ<ει> λειμῶνάς τε ἱεροὺς καὶ ἄλσεα Φερσεφονείας Line 2: upper case letters within obeloi are illegible Text: Zuntz (1971), p

11 Thurii 3 C o m p l e t e G o l d L e a v e s But when the soul forsakes the light of the sun, take the right [ ] each step with all due care. Welcome! After an ordeal you have never been through before. A god you are and mortal no longer. You are the kid that rushed to milk. Welcome and rejoice! Take the path to the right for the sacred meadows and groves of Persephone. Southern Italy, mid-4th c. B.C. 11

12 e d w a r d j e n n e r Rome Ἔρχεται ἐκ καθαρῶν καθαρά, χθονίων βασίλεια Εὔκλεεϛ Εὐβουλεῦ τε, Διὸϛ τέκοϛ, ἀλλὰ δέχε<σ>θε Μνημοσύνηϛ τόδε δῶρον ἀοίδιμον ἀνθρώποισιν. Καικιλία Σεκουνδεῖνα, νόμωι ἴθι δῖα γεγῶσα. Text: Graf & Johnston (2007), p

13 Rome C o m p l e t e G o l d L e a v e s Pure, she comes from the pure, Queen of the Dead, Eukles and Eubouleus, child of Zeus. But accept this gift of Memory s, this song forever sung. Come then, Caecilia Secundina, goddess now by law. mid-3rd c. A.D.(?) 13

14 This page has been intentionally left blank

15 B-texts C o m p l e t e G o l d L e a v e s

16 E d w a r d J e n n e r Hipponion Μναμοσύναϛ τόδε θρῖον ἐπεὶ ἂν μέλληισι θανεῖσθαι εἰς Ἀΐδαο δόμους εὐήρεας ἔστ ἐπὶ δεξιὰ κρήνα, πὰρ δ αὐτὰν ἑστακῦα λευκὰ κυπάρισσος ἔνθα κατερχόμεναι ψυχαὶ νεκύων ψύχονται. ταύτας τᾶς κράνας μηδὲ σχεδὸν ἐνγύθεν ἔλθηις. πρόσθεν δ εὑρήσεις τᾶς Μναμοσύνας ἀπὸ λίμνας ψυχρὸν ὕδωρ προρέον φύλακες δ ἐπύπερθεν ἔασι. οἳ δέ σε εἰρήσονται ἐν<ὶ> φρασὶ πευκαλίμαισι ὅτ<τ>ι δὴ ἐξερέεις Ἄϊδος σκότος ὀρφνήεντος. εἶπον ὑὸς Γᾶς ἠμι καὶ Οὐρανοῦ ἀστερόεντος. δίψαι δ ἠμ αὖος καὶ ἀπόλλυμαι ἀλλὰ δότ ὦ[κα ψυχρὸν ὕδωρ προρέον τῆς Μνημοσύνης ἀπὸ λίμ[νης καὶ δὴ τοί <σ >ἐλεοῦσιν ὑποχθόνιοι βασιλῆες καὶ δή τοι δώσουσι πιεῖν τᾶς Μναμοσύνας ἀπ[ὸ λίμνας καὶ δὴ καὶ σὺ πιὼν ὁδὸν ἔρχεα<ι> ἅν τε καὶ ἄλλοι μύσται καὶ βάκχοι ἱερὰν στείχουσι κλε<ε>ινοί. Greek text is substantially that of Edmonds (2011), but reading θρῖον ( leaf ) in line 1 (West, 1975:230); line 2, εἰς ( to ); line 10 (G&J); line 12 Zuntz 1976:133; line 13 Janko 1984:99. 16

17 Hipponion C o m p l e t e G o l d L e a v e s This is the leaf of Memory: on the point of death... to Hades well-built halls; there is a spring on your right and by it the cypress with its luminous sheen where the souls of the dead descend to slake their thirst. You must not go near this spring or drink its water. Further on you will find cold water flowing from Memory s lake; there are guardians standing over it. Shrewdly, in their wisdom, they will ask you why you scour Hades sombre shadows. Say: I am a son of Earth and starry Heaven. I am parched with thirst and dying: quickly, give me the cool water flowing from Memory s lake. And the rulers of the Underworld will pity you and they will give you water from Memory s lake and then you will pass along the sacred way that other initiates and bacchants tread to their glory. Southern Italy, c. 400 B.C. 17

18 E d w a r d J e n n e r Petelia Εὑρήσ{σ}ειϛ <δ > Ἀίδαο δόμων ἐπ ἀριστερὰ κρήνην, πὰρ δ αὐτῆι λευκὴν ἑστηκυῖαν κυπάρισσον ταύτηϛ τῆϛ κρήνηϛ μηδὲ σχεδὸν ἐμπελάσειαϛ. εὑρήσειϛ δ ἑτέραν, τῆϛ Μνημοσύνηϛ ἀπὸ λίμνηϛ ψυχρὸν ὕδωρ προρέον φύλακεϛ δ ἐπίπροσθεν ἔασιν. εἰπεῖν Γῆϛ παῖϛ εἰμι καὶ Οὐρανοῦ ἀστερόεντοϛ, αὐτὰρ ἐμοὶ γένοϛ οὐράνιον τόδε δ ἴστε καὶ αὐτοί. δίψηι δ εἰμὶ αὔη καὶ ἀπόλλυμαι. ἀλλὰ δότ αἶψα ψυχρὸν ὕδωρ προρέον τῆϛ Μνημοσύνηϛ ἀπὸ λίμνηϛ. καὐτ[οί] σ[ο]ι δώσουσι πιεῖν θείηϛ ἀπ[ὸ κρή]νηϛ, καὶ τότ ἔπειτα [τέλη σὺ μεθ ] ἡρώεσσιν ἀνάξει[ϛ]. [Μνημοσύ]νης τόδε [ εριον ἐπεὶ ἂν μέλληισι] θανεῖσθ[αι.] τόδε γραψ[ (in right margin) τογλωσειπα σκότοϛ ἀμφικαλύψαϛ. Text: Edmonds (2011), p

19 Petelia C o m p l e t e G o l d L e a v e s You will find a spring on your left in Hades halls and by it the cypress with its luminous sheen. Do not go near this spring or drink its water. You will find another, cold water flowing from Memory s lake; its guardians stand before it. Say: I am a child of Earth and starry Heaven, but descended from Heaven; you yourselves know this. I am parched with thirst and dying: quickly, give me the cool water flowing from Memory s lake. And they will give you water from the sacred spring and then you will join the heroes at their rites. This [is the. of Memo]ry: [on the point of] death ] write this [ ] the darkness folding [you] within it. Southern Italy, 4th c. B.C. 19

20 E d w a r d J e n n e r Pharsalos Εὑρήσεις Ἀίδαο δόμοις ἐνδέξια κρήνην, πὰρ δ αὐτῆι λευκὴν ἑστηκυῖαν κυπάρισσον ταύτης τῆς κρήνης μηδὲ σχεδόθεν πελάσηισθα πρόσσω δ εὑρήσεις τὸ Μνημοσύνης ἀπὸ λίμνης ψυχρὸν ὕδωρ προ ρέον φύλακες δ ἐπύπερθεν ἔασιν οἱ δὲ σ εἰρήσονται ὅ τι χρέος εἰσαφικάνεις τοῖς δὲ σὺ εὖ μάλα πᾶσαν ἀληθείην καταλέξαι εἰπεῖν Γῆς παῖς εἰμι καὶ Οὐρανοῦ ἀστ ερόεντος Ἀστέριος ὄνομα δίψηι δ εἰμ αὖος ἀλλὰ δότε μοι πιεῖν ἀπὸ τῆς κρήνης. Text: Zuntz (1971), p

21 Pharsalos C o m p l e t e G o l d L e a v e s You will find a spring on your right in Hades halls and by it the cypress with its luminous sheen. Do not go near this spring or drink its water. Further on you will find cold water flowing from Memory s lake; its guardians stand over it. They will ask you the purpose of your visit. Tell them the whole truth without any hesitation; say: I am a child of Earth and starry Heaven, Asterios by name. But I am parched with thirst; Let me drink from your spring. Thessaly, B.C. 21

22 E d w a r d J e n n e r Thessaly Δίψαι αὖοϛ ἐγὼ κ αὶ ἀπόλλυμαι ἀλλὰ πίε μου κράναϛ αἰειρόω. ἐπὶ δεξιὰ λευκὴ κυπάρισσοϛ. τίϛ δ ἐσί; πῶ δ ἐσί; Γᾶϛ υἱόϛ εἰμι καὶ Οὐρανοῦ ἀστερόεντοϛ αὐτὰρ ἐμοὶ γένοϛ οὐράνιον. Text: Edmonds (2011), p.29 22

23 Thessaly C o m p l e t e G o l d L e a v e s I am parched with thirst and dying: let me drink from the ever-flowing spring. On the right is a luminous cypress tree. Who are you? And where are you from? I am a son of Earth and starry Heaven but my descent is from Heaven. Unknown Location, B.C. 23

24 E d w a r d J e n n e r Entella col. i [ ἐπεὶ ἂν μέλ]ληισι θανεῖσθαι [ μ]εμνημέ<ν>ος ἥρως [ ]σκότος ἀμφικαλύψας [ ἐπὶ] δεξιὰ λίμνην, [πὰρ αὺτῆι λευκὴν ἑστη]κῦαν κυπάρισσον [ἔνθα κατερχόμεναι ψυ]χαὶ νεκύων ψύχονται. [ταύτης τῆς κρήνης μη]δὲ σχεδὸν ἐ<μ>πελάσ<ασ>θαι. [πρόσθεν δ εὑρήσεις τῆς] Μνημοσύνης ἀπὸ λίμνης [ψυχρὸν ὕδωρ προρέον ] φυλακοὶ δ ἐπύπε<ρ>θε<ν ἔ>ασιν. [τοὶ δέ σε εἰρήσονται ἐνὶ] φρασὶ πευκαλίμησιν, [ὅττι δὴ ἐξερέεις Ἄιδος σκότο]ς ὀρφονήεντος. [εἶπον Γῆς παῖς εἰμι καὶ] Οὐρανοῦ ἀστερόεντος. [δίψαι δ εἰμ αὖος καὶ ἀπόλλ]υμαι ἀλλὰ δότε μμοι [ψυχρὸν ὕδωρ πιέναι τῆς] Μνημοσύνης ἀπὸ λίμνης. col. ii αὐτὰρ ἐ[μοὶ γένος οὐράνιον τόδε δ ἴστε καὶ αὐτοί.] καί τοι δὴ [<σ >ἐλεοῦσιν ὑποχθόνιοι βασιλῆες καὶ τότε τ[οι δώσουσι πιεῖν τῆς Μνημοσύνης ἀπὸ λίμνης καὶ τότε δ[ὴ ούμβολα φ[ καὶ φε[ σεν[ Text: Graf & Johnston (2007), p.16 with the exception of line 16 which is line 13 of our text of Hipponion. 24

25 Entella C o m p l e t e G o l d L e a v e s col. i on the po]int of death ] hero remembering ] the darkness folding ] a lake on your right and by it the cypress with its luminous sheen where the souls of the dead descend to slake their thirst. Do not go near this spring or drink its water. Further on you will find cold water flowing from Memory s lake; there are guardians standing over it. Shrewdly, in their wisdom, they will ask you why you scour Hades sombre shadows. Say: I am a child of Earth and starry Heaven. I am parched with thirst and dying; give me the cool water flowing from Memory s lake. col. ii But descended from Heaven; you yourselves know this. And the rulers of the Underworld will pity you and they will give you water from Memory s lake and then [ passwords [ and [ [ Sicily, 3rd c. B.C. (?) 25

26 E d w a r d J e n n e r Eleutherna Δίψαι αὖος ἐγὼ καὶ ἀπόλλυμαι ἀλλὰ πιέμ μοι Κράνας αἰειρόω ἐπὶ δεξιά, τῆ κυφάρισσος. Τίς δ ἔσσι; πῶ δ ἔσσι; Γᾶς υἱός ἠμι καὶ ὠρανῶ ἀστερόεντος. Text: Zuntz (1971), p

27 Eleutherna C o m p l e t e G o l d L e a v e s I am parched with thirst and dying: let me drink from the ever-flowing spring on the right, by the cypress tree. Who are you? And where are you from? I am a son of Earth and starry Heaven. Crete, 2 nd -1 st centuries B.C.) 27

28 E d w a r d J e n n e r Mylopotamos Δίψα<ι> δ ἠμ αὖος καὶ ἀπόλ<λ>υμαι ἀλ<λ>ὰ πιέν μοι κράνας αἰειρόω ἐπὶ δεξιά, τῆ<ι> κυπάρισσος. τίς δ ἐσσί; πῶ δ ἐσσί; Γᾶς ἠμι θυ<γ>άτηρ καὶ Ωρανῶ ἀστερόεντος. Text: Edmonds (2011), p.27 28

29 Mylopotamos C o m p l e t e G o l d L e a v e s I am parched with thirst and dying: let me drink from the ever-flowing spring on the right, by the cypress tree. Who are you? And where are you from? I am a daughter of Earth and starry Heaven. Crete, 2 nd -1 st centuries B.C. 29

30 E d w a r d J e n n e r Rethymnon Δίψαι {τοι} <α>ὖος παραπ<ό>λλ<υ>ται ἀλλὰ π{α}ιέν μοι κράνας <Σ>αύρου ἐπ {α} ἀρι<σ>τερὰ τᾶς κυφα{σ}ρίσσω. τίς δ εἶ ἢ πῶ δ εἶ; Γᾶς ἠμ{ο}ὶ μάτηρ {πωτιαετ} <κ>αὶ <Ο>ὐρανῶ <ἀ>στε<ρόεντος> {τισδιψαιτοιατοιιυτοοπασρατανηο} Text: Edmonds (2011), p

31 Rethymnon C o m p l e t e G o l d L e a v e s He is parched with thirst and wasting away: let me drink from the ever-flowing spring to the left of the cypress tree. Who are you? And where are you from? Earth is my mother [ ] and of starry Heaven. [who with thirst... ] Crete, 2 nd -1 st centuries B.C. 31

32 This page has been intentionally left blank

33 Other texts C o m p l e t e G o l d L e a v e s

34 E d w a r d J e n n e r Pelinna (a) Νῦν ἔθανες καὶ νῦν ἐγένου, τρισόλβιε, ἄματι τωῖδε. εἰπεῖν Φερσεφόναι σ ὅτι Β<ακ>χιος αὐτὸς ἔλυσε. τα{ι}ῦρος εἰς γάλα ἔθορες, αἶψα εἰς γ<ά>λα ἔθορες, κριὸς εἰς γάλα ἔπεσ<ες>. οἶνον ἔχεις εὐδ<α>ίμονα τιμή<ν> κἀπιμένει σ ὑπὸ γῆν τέλεα ἅσσαπερ ὄλβιοι ἂλλοι. Text: Graf & Johnston (2007), p.36 34

35 Pelinna (a) C o m p l e t e G o l d L e a v e s Now you died and now you came into being, thrice blessed, on this very same day. Say to Persephone that the Bakkhios himself released you. A bull, you leapt into milk, you quickly leapt into milk, a ram, you rushed to milk. You have wine as your mark of good fortune. And the same prizes await you beneath the earth as the other blessed souls possess. Thessaly, B.C. 35

36 E d w a r d J e n n e r Pherai 1 Σύμβολα Ἀν<δ>ρικεπαιδόθυρσον, ἀνδρικεπαιδόθυρσον Βριμώ, Βριμώ. εἴσιθ<ι> ἱερὸν λειμῶνα ἄποινος γὰρ ὁ μύστης. ΓΑΠΕΔΟΝ Text: Graf & Johnston (2007), p

37 C o m p l e t e G o l d L e a v e s Pherai 1 Passwords? Man-childthyrsus Man-childthyrsus Brimo Brimo Come into the sacred meadow: redeemed is the initiate. GAPEDON Thessaly, B.C. 37

38 E d w a r d J e n n e r Pherai 2 πέμπε με πρὸς μυστῶ<ν> θιάσους ἔχω ὄργια [Βάκχου] Δήμητρος Χθονίας τε <τέ>λη καὶ Μητρὸς Ὀρεί[ας]. Graf & Johnston (2007), p

39 Pherai 2 C o m p l e t e G o l d L e a v e s Send me to the bands of initiates, for I know the mysteries of [ the rites of Demeter Chthonia and those of the Mountain Mother. Thessaly, B.C. 39

40 E d w a r d J e n n e r Amphipolis Εὐαγὴς ἱερὰ Διονύσου Βαχχίου εἰμί, Ἀρχεβού[λ]η Ἀντιδώρου. Text: Graf & Johnston (2007), p

41 Amphipolis C o m p l e t e G o l d L e a v e s Pure am I sacred to Dionysos Bakkhios, Arkheboulē [daughter] of Antidoros. Macedonia, B.C. 41

42 This page has been intentionally left blank

43 C o m p l e t e G o l d L e a v e s Bibliography R.G. Edmonds III (ed.), The Orphic Gold Tablets and Greek Religion: Further along the Path, Cambridge University Press, New York, 2011 F. Graf and S.I. Johnston, Ritual Texts for the Afterlife: Orpheus and the Bacchic Gold Tablets, Routledge: London and New York, 2007 R. Janko, Forgetfulness in the Golden Tablets of Memory, Classical Quarterly 34, pp , 1984 M.L. West, Zum Neuen Goldblättchen aus Hipponion, Zeitschrift für Papyrologie und Epigraphik 18, pp , 1975 G. Zuntz, Persephone: Three Essays on Religion and Thought in Magna Graecia, Clarendon Press: Oxford, 1971 G. Zuntz, Die Goldlamelle von Hipponion, Wiener Studien 10, pp , 1976 Cover image Thessaly, unknown location BC, 22 x 37 mm. By courtesy of the John Paul Getty Museum, Malibu, California. 43

44 Digitalised for Percutio publications December 2015 Dunedin City 9597 New Zealand